8 Pipe Bombs in Florida, No Big Deal

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reports in a news release that ATF agents, along with FBI bomb technicians and Tampa police, executed a search warrant Monday at the home of 24-year-old Michael Ramos. Tampa police had passed along a tip about the explosives to ATF. The news release says Ramos had previously expressed anti-government sentiment and acknowledged being in possession of explosives. Besides the bombs, agents reported finding an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, a .45 caliber pistol and large amounts of ammunition.

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He apparently got ratted out by a friend who also had a bust for trafficking in pipe bombs, and Ramos wasn't shy about what he was about, at least not according to the affidavit filed in support of the bust.

After his arrest, Ramos admitted to making a number of pipe bombs and identified websites he used as reference in making them. He told detectives he bought fuses from Phantom Fireworks, PVC pipe from Home Depot, and other bomb-making materials from Amazon.com. He also admitted to having tear gas, which he bought from keepshooting.com, and smoke grenades at his house. Ramos continued, saying he recently sold a Mossberg, pump action shotgun with a shortened barrel, which he purchased at a Walmart in Lakeland. Ramos told detectives in a written statement he manufactured eight black-powder-based pipe bombs for "preparedness/protective" reasons. He also wrote he never had intentions of harming anyone with the bombs.

"keepshooting.com"?

Stunning.

By the way, as far as I can tell, this arrest hasn't made any national splash at all. If this guy had been some poor slob in Miami spouting off about the Koran to an FBI undercover, it would be the first question at the next debate. I'm telling you, sooner or later, one of these dangerous clowns is going to be good at his job, and everybody is going to be so amazed.

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